This lovely (and heart-pulling) post by Andrea at Book Scout reminded me of the value of reading out loud.  Not that I need a lot of reminding…

Have you read the post yet?  That first story of a father reading to his son over the phone is killer.

Here at the Elliott house, we’ve been reading When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary (illustrated by Julie Morstad).

The Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown (illustrated by Garth Williams), a weird and funny little book, strangely comforting…

The Red Shoes by Gloria Fowler (illustrated by Sun Young Yoo), which brought up the disturbing issue of death and what it means…

Follow the Line by Laura Ljungkvist, a beautiful book of art and questions.

These are, of course, ostensibly for Liliana, but we love them, too.

A book that you might enjoy, read out loud to you (because the voices are just too great to pass up,) is my friend John’s If You Lived Here You’d Already Be Home.  Remember I promised a giveaway of two, signed copies of his new short story collection?

Well, as promised.  Please comment below, divulging one book you’re reading now, either for yourself or for your children, and you shall be entered.  You can always e-mail me at comment4elissa at gmail dot com if you’re bashful.  Deadline: Wednesday, April 21, at midnight PST.

What are you waiting for?

Update on Wednesday, April 22, 2010:

Fanfare, please!  Ta-da!  We have two winners of John Jodzio’s signed short story collection, If You Lived Here You’d Already Be Home.

They are, in no official order:

Dani Rice & Jess

The heartiest of congratulations to the winners!  If you didn’t win, I’d be writing down the names of all those delicious books that people have listed as favorites.  I know I am.

Thanks for entering, everyone!